
The Story of Ten Men
NOTE.—The law of Israel required that a leper should not enter a city,
that he should not approach anyone, but should cover his face and cry,
"Unclean, unclean," if anyone drew near. A description of this scene is
portrayed by Cunningham Geikie:
"Ten men, hideous with leprosy, ranged themselves at a distance from the
road, as similar sufferers still do, before their huts at the Zion Gate at Jeru-
salem. It was a law in Samaria that no leper could enter a town, and hence
the unfortunate creatures accosted Jesus while He was still outside the village.
Misery had broken down all prejudice of race or faith, and had brought
together even Jew and Samaritan. . . . The ten had heard of Jesus, and
the wonderful cures He had performed on such as they, and no sooner saw
Him than they broke out with the common cry,
'Tame! Tame!
Unclean!
unclean ! Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.' It was a sight that might have
touched any heart, for it must have been like that which still repeats itself to
passers-by at the leper quarters elsewhere—a crowd of beggars without eye-
brows, or hair on their faces or heads; the nails of their hands and feet, and
even a hand or a foot itself, gone from some; the nose, the eyes, the tongue,
the palate, more or less wanting in others. As they stood afar off, their lips
covered with their abbas, like mourners for the dead,—for they were smitten
with a living death, which cut them off from intercourse with their fellows
the pity of Jesus was excited, and without even waiting to come near, sent
hope to them in the words, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.'
"—"The Life
and Words of Christ," vol.
2, p. 268.
9.
What did these men do as Jesus came within sound of their voices?
Verse 13.
10.
What answer did Jesus make to them? As the men obeyed, what
came to pass? Verse 14.
NoTE.—These lepers might naturally have objected to starting to the priests
until the miracle of healing had been experienced, but their faith led them to
obey, and in the act of obeying, the blessing came.
"They [the lepers] knew what the command meant, for no one who was
not cleansed could approach a priest, and as they moved off, the disease left
them. The Samaritan would have to show himself to a Samaritan priest ;
the nine Jews needed to go up to the temple at Jerusalem for an official
certificate of health."—"The
Life and Words of Christ,"
Geikie, vol. 2, p. 268.
11.
What did one of the healed men do? What degree of earnestness
did he show? Of what nationality was he? Verses 15, 16.
12.
What two questions did Jesus then ask? Verse 17.
13.
How did Jesus refer to the Samaritan? What cheering words did
He speak to the stranger? Verses 18, 19.
NOTE.—"Here is a lesson for us all. These lepers were so corrupted by
disease that they had been restricted from society lest they should contaminate
others. Their limits had been prescribed by the authorities. Jesus comes
within their sight, and in their great suffering, they cry unto Him who alone
has power to relieve them. Jesus bids them show themselves to the priests.
They have faith to start on their way, believing in the power of Christ to heal
them. As they go on their way, they realize that the horrible disease has left
them. But only one has feelings of gratitude, only one feels his deep indebted-
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